National Party Fundraising Through Jan. 31, 2004-16

Political Parties Show a Mixed Fundraising Picture

Updated tables showing national party receipts and net cash on hand through January 31st for 2004-2016 are now available on the CFI website. The amounts are listed in nominal and constant dollars.

The six national political party committees presented a mixed fundraising picture at the end of January. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee had raised more than its Republican counterpart in its attempt to regain majority control of the U.S. Senate, but was running behind in net cash on hand. The Democratic National Committee was running behind the Republican National Committee in both fundraising and cash, while the two Congressional Campaign Committees were about even.

National Committees

The DNC was 2.3 million in the hole on January 31st because of $7.4 million in debt. Much of the debt carries all the way back to 2012, when the DNC borrowed $18.5 million to support President Obama’s reelection. Later in 2014, the DNC borrowed another $2 million.

The $70.2 million raised by the DNC was on pace with the $69.2 million (adjusted dollars) in 2008, but far behind 2012’s $128 million. In 2012 President Obama’s ability as an incumbent to start joint fundraising efforts early provided a strong boost to the DNC’s tally – although not enough to keep it from falling in debt by the end of the year.

The RNC easily outpaced the DNC in fundraising so far this cycle, $114.8 million to $70.2 million. The RNC also had a positive net cash balance of $16.6 million. Part of the difference can be attributed to the government’s massive continuing funding resolution of December 2014, which let the parties create special accounts with higher contribution limits for conventions, headquarter buildings, and recounts. The RNC has raised $30.6 million for these accounts compared to $5.9 million for the DNC.

Congressional Committees

House: The DCCC and NRCC were about even, with each raising about $75 million dollars so far this cycle. The DCCC had $33.2 million net cash on hand on January 31st, and the NRCC had $34.7 million. While the DCCC has been up and down at this point in recent cycles, the NRCC has seen a steady increase in early fundraising each cycle since 2010 when it raised only $44.9 million (adjusted dollars).

Senate: The DSCC has continued to outpace the NRSC in early fundraising, raising $68.1 million to the NRSC’s $44.7 million. But, the DSCC total includes $10.7 million in loans taken out this cycle. As a result, the DSCC’s net cash ($5.7 million) is lower than the NRSC’s ($13.8 million).

The Campaign Finance Institute is the nation's pre-eminent think tank for objective, non-partisan research on money in politics in U.S. federal and state elections. CFI's original work is published in scholarly journals as well as in forms regularly used by the media and policy making community. Statements made in its reports do not necessarily reflect the views of CFI's Trustees or financial supporters.